Which way should non round pearls be drilled?

[raj]

I was wondering, is there a standard way that non round pearls should be drilled for use in a necklace? Does it depend how off round they are - i.e. if the difference between width and length is greater than ? mm then they get drilled on the long axis?

[Josh]

Hi Raj,
You answered your own question: pearls are usually drilled through their axis of rotation or symmetry (lengthwise). People are mixing that up a bit these days and it is especially common in freshwater pearls. Tahitians are almost exclusively drilled through their axis but some people are venturing outside of that box.

[jshepherd]

Welcome back.
In freshwater is is very often the opposite when dealing with potato pearls. Rice pearls and drops are drilled like Tahitians South Seas for the most part.